Kilkenny City is built on the The River Nore which is one of the Three Sisters Rivers which flow into the sea at Waterford Harbour, the other two being the River Suir and River Barrow.

The Nore rises on the eastern slopes of the Devil’s Bit Mountain in County Tipperary, flowing south-eastwards into County Laois and County Kilkenny before joining the River Barrow just north of New Ross.

It is 145 kilometres long.

The full length of the river is navigable, just pick up a map and get on where ever you wish, popular start points are Kilkenny city, Bennetsbridge and Thomastown.

The river passes near Durrow, County Laois then through Ballyragget, Kilkenny City and then the villages of Bennettsbridge and Thomastown.

It forms a picturesque V-shaped river valley, particularly notable near the beautiful village of Inistiogue, the tidal limit.

Major tributaries of the Nore include the Dinin, the Breagagh at Kilkenny City, the King’s River, the Little Arrigle and the Black Water.

The river is long and mostly flat.

Dotted with weirs at most of the villages it passes through.

Some of these weirs have good play boating qualities.

Some of the better weirs are Bleach Green Weir north of Kilkenny City, the new Bishops Weir above Green Bridge, The Ormonde and Lacken New Weirs below the Castle, Sion Mill Weir, Maddoxstown Weir, Bennetsbridge V Weir and The Mount Juliet Salmon Weir on the grounds of Mount Juliet Golf and Country Club.

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